Inauguration

OPENING OF NEW ERA
On March 27th 2008, His Excellency, Mr. Raja Zulqarnain Khan, President Azad Jammu & Kashmir inaugurated the purpose built edifice of PIRC. Mr. Sardar Haider Zaman, District Nazim Abbottabad was the Chief Guest. Ms Wendy Fair, Chairperson of South Asia Earthquake Appeal, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland was the Guest of Honor. A number of intellectuals and notables of Hazara and Azad Jammu & Kashmir were among the witnesses of this function. Dr. Javaid Butt, Dr. Jasbir Singh Puri, Mrs. Jasbir Singh Puri, Dr. Saheera Butt, Dr. Hajeera Butt, Dr. Ijlal Butt, and Dr. Khurram Shahzad from Ireland, were among the most distinguished guests.
His Excellency, the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir lauded the efforts of the international community for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation work for the earthquake affectees. He termed the establishment of PIRC in Abbottabad as a great achievement towards the rehabilitation of disables.
Mr. Sardar Haider Zaman praised the efforts of PIRC in rehabilitating the disables of the area. He said that PIRC has shown great commitment and resilience in helping the people who have lost their limbs during earthquake 2005 as well as the needy and poor people of the area. He also appreciated the role of PIRC, which he said was a glowing example of the goodwill gesture shown by the people of Ireland.Ms Wendy Fair Chairperson South Asia Earthquake Appeal Lucan, Dublin, in her speech termed it a team effort of all those who were involved in the process.Prof. Dr. Tariq Mufti Chief Executive Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences, being the Trustee of PIRC, informed that they have planned to establish new rehabilitation centers at Balakot and Muzafarabad besides training center for Orthotists and Prosthetists.

Mr. Babar Khalil Project Director of Pak-Irish Rehabilitation Centre informed the participants that over 200 hundred OPDs had been held during the last two years in Muzafarabad, Balakot and Ghari Habibullah through a State of the art latest and well equipped Mobile Unit. He informed that PIRC is providing all these facilities to the people at their doorstep and absolutely free of cost. He also disclosed that over 800 appliances were provided to the disabled.
Mr. Abdul Wahid Mir, Chief Executive expressed his gratitude for the President AJ&K, Mr. Sardar Haider Zaman, Ms Wendy Fair, Trustees from Ireland and the participants of the ceremony for supporting the establishment of this very first Rehabilitation Center for the comprehensive rehab of earthquake 2005 affectees.

Mr. Sardar Haider Zaman presented the “Key of Abbottabad” for Ms Mary Harney as a symbol of love from the people of Abbottabad for the people of Ireland through Ms Wendy Fair. Ms Wendy Fair thanked the people of Abbottabad for this honour.